THE weekend hoves into view this week with a wonderful collection of acoustic driven options around Old Town tonight.

Beehive favourite Jim Reynolds returns to that compact and bijou musical treasure trove with his usual bag of songs woven from strands of blues, ragtime, folk, r’n’b and music hall traditions. Music stripped back to its very essence and all the better for it.

At The Tuppenny a night of amazing modern acoustica is on offer courtesy of Ali Finneran and Sarah Ryan and The Victoria is getting all rootsy with Tripolar and The Wild Garlics returning to the top bar for a night of stomping, folked up fun.

And it is a vibe that even extends down to The Groves Company Inn as Lee Pryor delivers a set of the most iconic and beautiful songs of the 60s and 70s from James Taylor to Neil Young via Van Morrison and The Eagles.

Friday ramps up the rock a bit with the return of Stop Stop and Saints of Sin to The Victoria.

The headliners are a collection of European rockers aiming to bring the glory days of sleazy, street rock back. Think 80s anthemic glam metal, think The Sunset Strip, big riffs, even bigger hair, raw grooves, guitar virtuosity and a bag of killer tunes.

Support in what is effectively a double-headline gig comes from Saints of Sin another full on rock and roll shot in the arm to get the night under way.

A rock vibe opens The Castle’s packed night of music as Falls on Deaf Ears’ bass drive, groovesome rock are the first of four bands, with Street Spirit’s incendiary and cinematic indie-pop and Drew Bryant’s elemental acoustica to follow before The Conas offer up a set described as “psychedelic and explosive” to round the night off.

And just to through even more loud and shouty options at the rock fraternity, Level III will be holding a Metal Karaoke Night to help those who haven’t managed to get a ticket for Download Festival take their minds off of the fact they are missing Mastodon, Ministry, Sikth and Slayer by holding a celebration of their own.

If something with a skanking rhythm is more to your tastes then Groves Company Inn is the place and The 2Tone All Skas is the band for a night of classic songs from both the ska-revival era of The Specials and Selector plus songs from the Trojan Records roster that inspired it.

Those looking for a more general musical experience might like to try Hooch at The Beehive or The Meccano Men at The Queens Tap for a different take on songs you already know and love.

Saturday delivers something for everyone generically speaking. Snatch It Back at The Rolleston deliver high-octane psychedelic infused r’n’b and electric, not to mention eclectic blues and considering the occupant of the drum stool’s musical pedigree usually a few Groundhogs classics for good measure.

At The Grooves Company Inn, The Strays take the rockabilly template, blend in some blues, country rock and pop to give the genre a 21st century makeover and Syntronix will be flying the flag for eighties synth-pop, new romanticism, post-punk electro experimentalism as they tribute those seminal sounds at The Victoria.

Peloton are back at The Castle for a night of power-pop, new wave and Northern Soul whilst Last Call will be setting out a stall of contemporary rock covers at The Swiss Chalet. No Middle Ground will be found at The Queen’s Tap for a night of rock and indie standards from across both era and genre.

Whatever musical option you chose, Level III is the place to round things off with a Nothing but 90s club night, a night of nostalgia and records spun from the era that gave us Channel 5, Beanie Babies and Sunny D.

And if you missed The Misfires at The Victoria last Tuesday, then you can catch them again this week, though details on any support

bands are a little scarce at this

point.